TheNeverEndingPTR! Sept2010...no, November...WAIT! January?Ugh. maybe September 2011!

[donaldsgal]

Your day looks lovely! I've never heard of Devine being there either, she was on the path between Asia and Africa when we saw her in 2008! Brrrr! I think it almost hit 50 here today, so it's hard to imagine it that chilly in Florida! I'm glad you got to hit the pool, even for a little bit! In fact, IF (and that's a big IF, I won't give up hope just yet!) we have to postpone our trip, I will probably try to reschedule it for the time that Rey & I were going to do our Anniversary trip at the end of Jan or end of Feb (depending on the rates). Either way, I'll have to be prepared for cooler temps...but the low crowds sound great!!!

Did you decide on dinner tonight? Can't wait to hear about it.

We went to Cape May Clam Bake at the Beach Club. It was really good! They had a great selection, and the food was fresh!

Forget the chair that giant clown at the pool would give me nightmares! YIKES!

Love the pics, especially the elephant and baby!! They are my faves.

I remember the first time I saw hippos out of the water and just being SHOCKED at their size. You got some great animal shots!

Thanks! Yes, the chair and the clown slide are oddly fascinating!

The animal shots ARE amazing, they are really hard to get with how bumpy the Safari is!!!

It's Crescent Lake.

Thanks, and thanks!

I think both the chair and the clown are FREAKY!!! First of all I can see it now, the clown comes to life and chomps down on my legs!!! Blood in the pool everywhere......and then that chair with the man's face and woman's body.....well, that's just wrong!!! Ok....I think I need some sleep.

LOL - It reminds me of the clown from "It" by Stephen King. No thanks...

Today's update:

We got to the Magic Kingdom around 9:15. We hit Space Mountain first, and then we were off to Haunted Mansion for my surprise for Karen. It's not a big deal, but I wanted to do something special for you!

I brought a blank piece of paper with me into the park and wrote "Happy Birthday Karen" in what I tried to make look like creepy lettering. I carried this around until we did Haunted Mansion around 9:30ish. Then we asked some CMs to make their scariest faces and hold the sign! Thanks to my sister for helping by asking them; I felt a little silly but I really wanted to do it! The guy on the left thought he should put the chains around him to look even scarier.

I apologize; you can't read the sign very well in all the pictures, but I tired to get a variety.

In front of the graveyard outside of the entrance:

(After the stretching room but before you get into the line):

In the queue with the Doom Buggies in the background (my sister doing a creepy face for you):

Outside the ride (my creepy face):

In front of the pet cemetery (thanks to your pet-sitting adventures):

With the ride in the background:

And just trying to be clever - thought you might need this for the hubby and kids (this is on the kart outside the ride):

So you were at the Magic Kingdom today, at your favorite ride! I hope this makes your birthday a bit brighter!

We were able to ride BTMRR, Peter Pan, Snow White, Space Mtn twice, TTA, Monster's Inc. Laugh Floor, and Jungle Cruise. It was too cold for Splash, Pirates was broken when we went by, and Winnie the Pooh had a 25 minute wait.

We got to see what appears to be a trend in the parks of late - a janitor "painting" Mickey on the sidewalk:

We took the ferry to Fort Wilderness to hang out for a bit with the guys who do the WDW Today Podcast, so we got some shots along the way:

We then went to Epcot for Teppan Edo for dinner:

We walked through the Butterfly Garden before heading over to World Showcase:

We took the World Showcase ferry over to Morocco so we had a shorter walk to Japan. At Japan, we got to see the drummers performing:

At Teppan Edo, they surprised me with a dessert and a candle again. This time, however, they made everyone in our room sing to me. I was embarrassed, but it was nice:

We went back to the MK for Wishes, and now we're back in the room. Tomorrow is our last day; our flight leaves at 7:00 and the ME is picking us up at 4:20, so I think we are headed to DHS for the day. It was another good day - slightly warmer today which helped!

Karen, I hope you really enjoyed the movie!!!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

OMG Jenny, I cannot believe you did that for me! I'm sitting here crying! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the pictures, but the thought that you made a sign for me and my bday and that you thought of me today while you were at MK blows me away. I just cannot find the words to thank you enough, you have no idea how much that means to me! Thank you so much. I hope your day was magical, you sure made mine magical!

We loved the movie! Hope and Summer came back to my house and we had wine and they brought me a wonderful salad and a gift certificate to the local spa. I'm just overwhelmed and so grateful to all the wonderful people in my life. I may not have lots of money, but I'm certainly RICH.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Have a very Happy "Un-Birthday" Karen!!!!!!! (I know I am such a dork )

I hope you guys are having a great time at the Alice in Wonderland movie!!!

Thanks Janine! I almost missed you at the bottom of the page! (and I was too busy crying over the pics Jenny posted! LOL) We LOVED the movie! Had a great evening! Thanks for thinking of me!

 

[-Hope-]

Jenny that was an AMAZING thing you did! I'm sitting here tearing up because I know how much that means to Karen! You are awesome!!!

 

[donaldsgal]

OMG Jenny, I cannot believe you did that for me! I'm sitting here crying! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the pictures, but the thought that you made a sign for me and my bday and that you thought of me today while you were at MK blows me away. I just cannot find the words to thank you enough, you have no idea how much that means to me! Thank you so much. I hope your day was magical, you sure made mine magical!

We loved the movie! Hope and Summer came back to my house and we had wine and they brought me a wonderful salad and a gift certificate to the local spa. I'm just overwhelmed and so grateful to all the wonderful people in my life. I may not have lots of money, but I'm certainly RICH.

Really? I'm so glad it made your day! I couldn't have hoped for a better reaction; I was just hoping you'd know you were thought of! It sounds like your birthday was really great. I saw several people walking around wearing Mad Hatter hats with the crazy orange hair attached and thought of you. Disney is definitely promoting the Alice in Wonderland merchandise!

Today was a good day - we were at DHS, and I got kissed by a Streetmosphere performer! We were waiting for the Block Party Bash parade and watching the cop and the chef (Les Manley and Ben Appetit). Ben was hilarious, following behind people, mimicking their movements/expressions/etc.. At one point, he saw me laughing and dropped his handkerchief and motioned for me to come pick it up. I wasn't sure if he was serious; the parade was about to start and the street was empty except for the Streetmosphere people. I did get up the second time he motioned for me and picked up the handkerchief, and he swayed bashfully, batting his eyelashes. He pointed to his cheek for me to kiss it, and when I leaned in, he turned his face and kissed me quickly nearly fully on the lips! It was pretty funny; there was quite a crowd at this point, and they all gasped and burst out laughing, so I know I wasn't the only person who was shocked! Someone came over and showed me a picture of the moment he kissed me... I guess I was a magnet for Streetmosphere interaction this trip.

We're at the airport now, waiting at the gate. It's been a great trip, but our feet are sooooo tired, and we miss my niece! Our mom took her to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live on Stage last night, though, so she got some fun out of our trip, too!

We board in about 20-30 minutes, I'd say, so I better get the computer off. I'll post some pictures of the day when we get home. Tomorrow is my actual birthday (the big 3-0, though everyone at Disney kept guessing 21, so either I look old enough that they knew 21 would be a funny guess, or that's the age every adult is supposed to want to be!). We're having dinner with extended family, but my sister has to fly to Salt Lake for a week for work. Needless to say, she's gonna be missing her little girl by next Thursday!

Jenny that was an AMAZING thing you did! I'm sitting here tearing up because I know how much that means to Karen! You are awesome!!!

I'm so glad you appreciated it! I can tell you and Karen are great friends - always having each others' backs! We all need friends like that in life.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

I can't wait to see pics of your streetmosphere experience! I hope your trip was as wonderful as it looked, I'm excited to see the last day of pics. I hope you check in today so I know you made it home ok!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

To go or not to go, that is the question.

Well, finances are not getting better but luckily we will get a tax return that will help. Talking to Rey yesterday though, I'm pretty sure we won't have the money for this trip or he won't go b/c we will have just gotten everything back in order. He says he doesn't mind me going without him, he just can't go.

Well, I'm unsure of what to do at this point. I was thinking of pushing the trip off to Jan/Feb when Rey & I were going to do our Anniversary trip, but Savannah seems to only love WDW in the fall and says she would rather wait a whole year and go in the fall. I could pull off a shortened trip without Rey and just go with the kids, no adr's, just free dining, driving, cutting out all extras, but I don't know that I wouldn't feel bad the whole time while Rey wasn't with us.

I could keep my ressie for now, pay when I can and then by Aug. 11th(when final payment is due), I would know if I could either pull off a cheaper trip or we might be able to go as planned with Rey (if things are better I might be able to talk him into it, he just can't see it now), but then I might have issues canceling the family suite and getting a regular room b/c it's so late in the game.

Choices, choices!

 

[Victoriasmom98]

Karen, I think your idea of waiting until August for the final payment to see if it's feasible is a good one. That way you have the ressies still. By then you'll have a better idea of finances. I don't think you should cancel until you absolutely have to. I'm pulling for you!!!

 

[lexmas]

I think you should keep your ressie too. You'll be able to switch to a value room somewhere, without any problems. Plus, you seem persuasive so you'll be able to convince Ray to go. September is a really long time away. I mean, I know we're all hoping it's around the corner because we love Disney, but you have time. Keep your chin up!

 

[-Hope-]

I think you need to decide what feels better- holding onto the hope that you'll be there in September or deciding now to postpone. If holding onto the hope is good and makes you happy then do it. If it just feels like limbo though and stresses you out then let it go. You don't have to decide today. Just keep asking yourself what feels right and I know you'll figure it out.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Thanks everyone! Right now I'm trying to figure out what feels like the right thing to do...I'm persuasive, right Hope?!!! *evil grin* I could try to persuade a certain someone with the initials M.A. to join us with Bella if Rey doesn't go...there's room in the Family Suite and it would cut the cost of the room in half... we could drive... hmmmm...wheels turning...

And if Rey doesn't come, I would shorten the trip by at least one night (our last) and if we have the funds for the Halloween party, we would go on the Thursday night party. Just trying to process it right now, it's a good thing I have this PTR to ramble on since everyone in the non-Disney world thinks I'm insane to begin with!

all the best people are, right???

 

[Charlefours]

AWw--Jenny, what a great thing to do for Karen!! What a special treat I imagine that is for Karent, to see all those great pictures.

Karen I hope you had a great birthday--I have not been on since Thursday so I missed it.

It is a decision you have to make--if you move your date, you do not lose your deposit. If you move to January, you can look back into the home school tickets. Perhaps Savannah will come around--has she gone in January before? Talk about low crowds!! You may luck out again and get a pin code again or the deals they run will be great since it is a really off time. No hot weather either and it will get you away from the cold. Honestly, will you want to go without Rey? Disney is NOT going anywhere--you will get back when it is the right time for you and the family!!

Splitting the room is another good way to make the trip more doable!!

 

[donaldsgal]

Karen, I'm here! We got home safely and my sister arrived safely in Salt Lake City this afternoon. We just returned from The Cheesecake Factory for a birthday dinner since today is officially the day (and I officially entered the world 30 years and 9 minutes ago). I'll post more later about your plans, but I wanted to honor your request that I check in.

Jenny

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Karen, I'm here! We got home safely and my sister arrived safely in Salt Lake City this afternoon. We just returned from The Cheesecake Factory for a birthday dinner since today is officially the day (and I officially entered the world 30 years and 9 minutes ago). I'll post more later about your plans, but I wanted to honor your request that I check in.

Jenny

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JENNY!!!!!!!!!! (See, there's just nothing I can do that compares to your Happy Birthday to me!)

Glad you made it home ok, can't wait to see pics of the last day!

 

[PixieDustPrincess05]

Hi Karen!

I think I might be able to help!!!! We are always back and forth about postponing our trip- so I know how you feel. The key thing is, you have to adjust your plans to what is affordable to you- and not what you have to do because you are in Disney World and you feel it has to be done. Your trip will be special no matter what- you could have a magical time camped out by a trash can on Main Street (I know I could )- just the fact that you are there will be special. So, here are my suggestions:

1. Shorten your trip a few days.
2. Get MYW base tix instead of hoppers and waterpark and more options (thats about 100.00 or more pp x 6 that you are saving!!!!!!). Believe me, we are still back and forth about these darn hopper tix, as of right now, I have our parks figured out to were we don't need them. As far as the waterpark goes, I don't ever add that option because we have waterparks here in NJ, and there is a pool at the hotel. Or if you really feel that you have to do one of these options, choose one and cancel the other.
3. Go with 2 adjoining rooms in the non preferred section rather than the suites. That will save you a boatload of cash right there.
4. Stay with the QSDP. You get 2 meals, 2 snacks, and the mugs- what more can a person ask for- and your not tied down to ADR's. Doing this will totally cut out the expense for tips, and paying OOP for extra meals or upgrading to the regular DDP. You could plan a special night to go to a TS restaurant that everyone will enjoy- that in my opinion Karen, will be more special than you think . Save your $$$ to eat around the world at Epcot- that will be a special thing for you and your hubby.
5. If its cheaper to drive, drive. If its cheaper to fly, fly.
6. Uhhhh..... I really hate having to say this...... the infamous MNSSHP. Great great thing, but very very pricey- and I know how looking forward to it you and Savannah probably are. But just think, if you post pone your trip to another month, you won't be doing it anyway- plus you will be SAVING almost 400.00!!!! If it makes you feel better, we are bowing out of this one and going to DTD that night.
Trust me, people bend themselves backwards all the time because they think that there is only one right way to do disney like staying in the most expensive hotels, eating the dxdp, etc.- but you have to do disney the way thats right for you.
I really hope this helps you- you will get to go back, whether its this fall, or next year- the good thing is, the last time I checked, disney is not going anywhere .

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Hi Karen!

I think I might be able to help!!!! We are always back and forth about postponing our trip- so I know how you feel. The key thing is, you have to adjust your plans to what is affordable to you- and not what you have to do because you are in Disney World and you feel it has to be done. Your trip will be special no matter what- you could have a magical time camped out by a trash can on Main Street (I know I could )- just the fact that you are there will be special. So, here are my suggestions:

1. Shorten your trip a few days.
2. Get MYW base tix instead of hoppers and waterpark and more options (thats about 100.00 or more pp x 6 that you are saving!!!!!!). Believe me, we are still back and forth about these darn hopper tix, as of right now, I have our parks figured out to were we don't need them. As far as the waterpark goes, I don't ever add that option because we have waterparks here in NJ, and there is a pool at the hotel. Or if you really feel that you have to do one of these options, choose one and cancel the other.
3. Go with 2 adjoining rooms in the non preferred section rather than the suites. That will save you a boatload of cash right there.
4. Stay with the QSDP. You get 2 meals, 2 snacks, and the mugs- what more can a person ask for- and your not tied down to ADR's. Doing this will totally cut out the expense for tips, and paying OOP for extra meals or upgrading to the regular DDP. You could plan a special night to go to a TS restaurant that everyone will enjoy- that in my opinion Karen, will be more special than you think . Save your $$$ to eat around the world at Epcot- that will be a special thing for you and your hubby.
5. If its cheaper to drive, drive. If its cheaper to fly, fly.
6. Uhhhh..... I really hate having to say this...... the infamous MNSSHP. Great great thing, but very very pricey- and I know how looking forward to it you and Savannah probably are. But just think, if you post pone your trip to another month, you won't be doing it anyway- plus you will be SAVING almost 400.00!!!! If it makes you feel better, we are bowing out of this one and going to DTD that night.
Trust me, people bend themselves backwards all the time because they think that there is only one right way to do disney like staying in the most expensive hotels, eating the dxdp, etc.- but you have to do disney the way thats right for you.
I really hope this helps you- you will get to go back, whether its this fall, or next year- the good thing is, the last time I checked, disney is not going anywhere .

Thanks Janine! We are taking a LOT of this advise! First off, Rey has decided he's not going to go. He said that even if we catch up by then, he just doesn't feel comfortable taking a vacation until we have more money saved and I think that will take longer. He also wants to be able to go on our Anniversary trip next year.

BUT, he still wants me & the kids to go. I'm bummed and trying to find a way to still enjoy it. I think once I get used to the idea, it will be ok, my first trip was without him and I had fun, maybe not as much, but I did.

It will be shortened by a day and we will be cutting many things out to make it as cheap as possible. Taking our 5th person out already cut the trip in half. This is an annoyance to me actually. WHY does the cost of the trip almost double when you go from a 4 person trip to a 5? It's really rough for families with more than 4. In any case, the price dropped dramatically when I took Rey out.

Then I took out airfare, we will drive straight through and pack food to eat. I took out ALL our ADR's, although I'm tempted to keep CP and Tusker House just in case I save up the money for them. They are cheaper (by WDW standards) when it comes to TS and if I can save enough petsitting money, we may still keep them. I plan on funding the whole trip with my petsitting money!

We will have plenty of food with our free QSDP and we had already omitted WP&M and hoppers. It looks like we'll have to miss Spectro though b/c the only day I can make work for MK is our first day and although it's a PM EMH, they only have Wishes at 8pm and no Spectro. We've seen it though and I'm ok with missing it.

So, I'm still a little sad and having issues with my itinerary. To be honest, I'm still not completely sure about the trip. When I went to the first page and saw the pic of me & Rey, it just made me feel like maybe I don't want to go without him. I'm not sure.

In any case, I've decided to focus on something else for a while, maybe that will help me clear my mind and make the right choice. Hope & I started a joint blog for 365 days of photography. Come check it out! We'll be posting a new pic each day, it will allow us to challenge ourselves to spend more time with our cameras and that makes for better Disney pics, so it's still related, right?!?!?

The 365 Project

 

[Victoriasmom98]

Janine, that was great advise and so true!!! Look at me --- I've never stayed on property before and have always enjoyed my trips!!! Just do what you can afford, Karen!

Oh, and us Disfriends could always hold a "Karen must go to Disney" bottle drive for you!!! Just trying to make you laugh!!!

 

[3princesses+aprince]

I'm going to wait until after my wedding, but I may cut out the WP&M option as well if we're getting close! I thought about it already and it bums me out, but we're going to be in Disney having a wonderful time!

I do understand what you're saying about your husband not going. I would feel sad about that as well!

 

[DrMomof3]

I'm sorry you're struggling with finances Karen. We have discussions all the time about the cost of vacation. I'm really trying to pay a little at a time so I know it'll be paid in advance! It's hard because unexpected expenses seem to crop up and we can't plan for everything.
I'm pulling for you!

Amanda

 

[PixieDustPrincess05]

I'm glad I can help Karen - after all, isn't that what all of us DIS buddies are for, to keep the magic alive in other peoples lives ?
I was reading your reply to mine and I immediately thought of something that might just be able to change Rey's mind. What if you compromised your Anniversary trip with this trip (with the kids along to enjoy), maybe he may not feel as bad. He sounds like he is a real hard worker and provider for you and your family- and that is just awesome. And anyway, if you plan to fund your trip without him with your petsitting money, he would only have to make up the difference for an extra standard room and his ticket rather than the whole trip. The good thing about Disney is that it can slowly be paid off (sad but true, this is how half of us get to go- including myself ).

By the way, those pics on your blog are gorgeous!!!!!!!